The reports out of spring training are generally filled with optimism and urgency.

Optimism because nobody’s yet lost a game this year that counted; urgency because there are always jobs, or at least roster spots, won or lost on the basis of what ability players display (or at least can fake) in camp.

For some players, this is a real urgency; the clock ticks for all of us, but especially for a professional athlete. This is probably the best chance Denard Span will ever have at becoming a major league regular; it’s an open job, and there are obviously talented and young center fielders in the organization. Span wakes up every morning knowing it’s now or never.

Failure or success today can change his life. That’s pressure.

For the rest, the urgency is artificial. It’s obvious that nobody in the organization cares that Livan Hernandez isn’t pitching effectively; Carlos Silva didn’t last spring either, and he had a solid season. For such players, this is a period of getting ready for the regular season.

It doesn’t truly matter, really, who among the flock of candidates —Kevin Slowey, Philip Humber, Nick Blackburn, Brian Bass, Glen Perkins — emerges with the fifth starter’s job. The Greg McMichael rule — if you get people out, they’ll find a job for you — applies to all pitchers. (And if you don’t get people out, the Pete Hamm rule applies — you find another way of making a living.)

Slowey’s numbers from last season — a 1.89 ERA with an 18 walk/107 strikeout ratio in Triple A — tell us that hitters on that level have nothing to teach him. But if the Twins decide to go with Blackburn instead, it’s not a disaster. Slowey will get a shot again someday. And so will Blackburn if he gets sent down.

I’m here on vacation, taking it easy, more or less. I’m watching the games and other camp activities with a few questions in mind — the same questions that occupy the thoughts of Ron Gardenhire, Bill Smith and the rest of the people making decisions for the Twins. Questions about second base, about center field, about the pitching staff.

I’m posting on my blog when I have an observation worth sharing.

But no one spring training game will reveal the answers. And that’s fine by me.

I’m just watching some ball in the sun.

Edward Thoma is a Free Press staff writer. He is at 344-6377 or at ethoma@ mankatofreepress.com. He also has a baseball blog.